Shorthand type-writing machine.



G. K. ANDERSON. I SHORTHAND TYPE WRITING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED 001.23, 1912.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. K/ANDERSON. SHORTHAND TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OOT. 23,1912.

Patented Aug. 25, 191

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

v [NYE "TOR WITNESSES:

1 keys of my GrEORGl'E KERR ANDERSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHORTHAND TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

1,108,661. Original applimition filed August 10, 1908, Serial Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

No. 447,749. Divided and this application filed October 53, 1912. Serial No. 727,459.

To all whom it may concern! Be it known that I, Gnonon Kenn ANDER- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county Q If Philadelphia, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shorthand Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to eiiect certain improvements in the construction and operation of shorthand typewriting machines, hereafter usually spoken of as shorthand typewriters, especially the method of supporting the key-bars and the arrange ment of the key-boards, and the invention resides in the novel features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and claims and illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine, showlng the arrangement of the keys and key-buttons, the separate mounting of the printing keys and shift keys, the typeframes and part of the feed mechanism and rear portion of the machine. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the printing keys and shift machine and means for supporting same, on the line A A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view and Fig.4 a plan view of section of shift key bar, showing tubular bearing and method of attaching same to the key-bar. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the keyboard of my machine where code mark keys are substituted for shift keys, and Figs. 6,

- 7 and 8 are detail views showing method of supplorting the key-bars.

T is application is, in part, a division of my pending application 447,749, filed August 10, 1908, to which reference is made for a fuller description of the workings of the machine as a whole.

On each side of the base of the machine are the upright side plates 1, l, in which are revolubly mounted the type-frames, 14, on the journal rod, 13, and in which is also mounted the feed frame, 16, on the pivot rod, 15. The three type-frames are provided on the lower side with rows of type as explained in my Patent 581,570, and in my pending application 447,749, and beneath these type-frames are located, side by side,

the printing keys, 5, in positions correspond-' ing to the rows of type on the type frames above them, all of which is fully explained -in the patent and application for patent just referred to. This explanation is not repeated here because the advantages of arranging the key board of a shorthand machine are not confined to machines where the method of supporting the key-bars or the method of printing would correspond to those described in this application, but would extend and apply to any writing maching wherein a number of keys could be struck simultaneously and the key board of which was adapted to a substantially similar arrangement. I

Fig. 1 shows a portion, 17, of the'feedframe, 16, resting on the ends of the printing keybars, 5. The printing key-bar's may, so far as the arrangement of the key-board is concerned, bemounted in a guide block as described in my precedingpatents, or in any other suitable way, but 1n. the present instance they are provided with long, tubular hearings or hubs, 3, as shown in Fig. 5, and as also shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, fastened to the key-bar by a thin strip of metal, 18, which fits close to the key-bar on both sides and is soldered, riveted or otherwise secured thereto, and through which, beneath the key-bar, a piece of tubin r passes and is soldered or otherwise fasteneii, and through this tube the pivot rod 9, passes as shown in Figs. 1, 5 7 and 8. The advantage of this arrangement is that the key-bar itself is not weakened by the pivot rod going directly through it, as heretofore, and the size of the pivot rod maybe greatly increased, while the bearing secured is very much longer than the thickness of the bar, and especially is this the case when, as shown in Figs. 1 and5, the key-bars are mounted in more than onerow, The pivot rods, 9, are sup ported by the frame. 8. which is secured to the base of the machine and the endsof which are bent up as shown in Fig. and these pivot rods are held in position laterally by the clamps, 10, at each end of the supporting frame, 8. The type frames are moved to bring thecharacters in the vari ous rows'of type immediately above and opposite the printing keys, by the shift keys, 6, as already described in my pending application 447 ,749, and in order to shorten the stroke of the shift keys, they are mounted closer totlfie" operator and farther from'i the type 5 frames than the printing keys, as I shown inFig; 1, on;--a, pivot rod which sup ports all of them and is secured in the lugs 2, 2, at each side of the machine. These shift keys are provided with long, tubular bearings beneath them, as shown in Figs; 1, 2, 3

and 4, and similar in construction to the bearings of the printing keys, which have already been explained. In order to' allow the free movement of the shift keys without 7 interfering with the printing keys, they are mounted beneath the'latter', that is on a lower plane; 1 an "arrangement which, as

shown in Fig. l,'perinits 'one seriesof keys to, freely cross ano'ther'series-a very important advantage Where space is so limited as'in a machine of thislcharacterl' Only two of the shift keys require springs, and these; are provided withv spiral springs, 11, as shown in Fig. 1. The figure shift, 7,'is so fully described in application 447 ,749, that only its location will be indicated here, as has been done in Fig. 1. The shift keys are bent as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to make them high enough toipass over the feed frame, 16., and low enough to be out of the way of the printing keys. The threetype frames, 14, are revolubly mounted on the pivot rod, 13,

which is secured in the upright side plates,

l, 1, of the machine. These type frames are provided with type as follows:

" Left hand type frame-consonants:

which, referring to the'key board, Fig. 1,

are the bottomletter on each key button. If

the first seven'printing keys are struck simultaneously with the left hand shift key, th

following letters will. be printed:

' S' P BF G L R which appear on the key board as the second letters from the bottom of the respective keys. If the same printing keys and the next 1 shift key are struck simultaneously, I

they "will pr-int, the following:

' s'M'NvKLY which appear on the key board as the'third letters from thebotto-m--. of. the respective I keys. If the same keys are struck simultaneously with both the left hand shift keys,-

the following characters, will be printed:

sozxr,

which appear on the key board as the top letters on their respective keys. "If the three vowel keys are struck simultaneously with theshift key marked vowels, on Fig. '13,"-the following letters will be printed:

O U I i I If the six remaining printing'keys' are struck simultaneously with the right hand consonant shift, they will print ,LKMrrs The shift key for figures operates as ex plained in my pending application 447,749, and is located between the printing keys and the type frames, to be out of the way of all the keys that are used in spelling-word's,

The central type frame, carrying the vowels, is provided with a long. arm,-'20, as shown in Fig. 1, the purpose of which is fully explained in mypending application 447,749,

and in order to permit the vowel shift-key to operate this iframe' and at the same time have its key-button located next to 'the ke y buttons of the vowel keys, the end of this" shift keyis bent so as to come around the end' of the adjoining shift key, .6, as" shown in Fig. 1.

While the letters and characters here shown are the ones recommended, other let ters and characters might be used without departin from the spirit of this invention. So also tie type might be on complete type wheels similar to those'used in other writing machines, instead of on type segments or,

as they have been termed, typev frames, as here illustrated, or other meanswell known in the typewriting art or means not'yet' devised might be used for printing letters without departing from the spiritof this invention, which relates mainly to the ar rangement of the keys themselves and to the method of supporting the key-bars when keybars of the kind herein described are used in connection with the key board here' shown; a

1 In a machine of this character," where mind and hand must act in unisonseveral times each second, the arrangement'of the key board, the'arrangement of the key buttons onthe key board, is of the greatest importance, a'ndthe arrangement shown in this application is the result of a great deal of study and many. practical experiments.

The purpose of thisarrangementfis (1) to arising from uncertainty as to whether he is striking a shift key or a printing key-g- (3) to further assist the mind of the operator by locating this special group of shi t keys entirely apart from the printing keys and where they can be operated by distinctly different members of the hand-the thumbs, leaving all the fingers to operate all the printing keys (4) to assist the hand of the operator by locating the shift keys, which are so frequently used,'near the center it,

of the key board, where they, can be oper ated by the most active members of the hand; and (5) toflaassist the mind of the operator byjlocating each shift-key as close as practicable to the group of printing keys, in connection with which it is used.- While printing keys each operating in connection with a plurality of printing characters com-- the idea] arrangement of a keyboard is one "embodying all these features, as illustrated In board might be arranged embodying only some of them and securing apart of the-ad-j vantages herein set forth, without departing from the spirit -of thisinvention; and" it is also obvious that the method of supporting the key-bars herein described might be irsod with an entirely difierent key board'- or that this key board might be used with key-bars and printingarrangements of an entirely difi'erent character from those herein do"- scrib'ed, without departing from the spirit I of this invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent is, I p

1. In a shorthand typewriter a series of printing keys mounted parallel to each' other and having their endsresting side by side beneath typeframes provided with type arranged in rows corresponding in number and location to the ends of thekeybars beneath them; said type-frames being moved by a plurality of shiftkeys as herein-= before described said printing keys and shift keys being provided with key-buttons so ar-' ranged that aIlK the'printing keys can" be operated by the fingersand all the-shift- 2. In: a shorthand typewriter, a type frame provided 'with vowels, revolubly mounted between other type-frames provided with consonants, a series of printing keys adapted to operate against said t pe frames and as'hiftkey for moving said the drawings, it is obvious that" key with a vowel typeframe, the key button of said shift-key beingilocated in a separate field from the key-buttons of the printing keys but in closeproximity to the'key-butto'ns or the printing keys which operate in connection withsaid "vowel type-frame.

3. In a shorthand typewriter, a typefranie provided with vowels revolubly mounted between other type-frames provided with consonants, printing keys adapted-to' operate-against said type-frames and shift-keys for moving said type-frames, the

key button of the vowel shiit key being located between the key-buttons of the consonant shift-keys.

4. In a shorthand typewriter, a typeframe provided with vowels and a typeframe provided with consonants, said typeframesbeing revolubly mounted side by side and the characters thereon arranged in a plurality of longitudinal and transverse rows, in combination with shifty-keys for moving said type-frames,-the key-buttons of said shift-keys being located close enough together for the consonant. and vowel shifts to'be simultaneously operated by the samefinger'or thumb. I I

5. In a typewriting machine, a series of prising both vowels and I consonants arranged in a plurality of rows and key butbeing located close enough together to be simultaneously operated by the same finger or thumb, and the vowel shift-key and the consonant shift-key operating independently of each other.

6. In a shorthand typewriter, provided with aplurality ofprinting keys each operating in connection with printing charhc- 'ters,*a group of vowel-printing keys located between two groups of consonant-printing.

.keysyand a series of shift-keys adapted to vary'the' characters printed'by the printing keys, the key button of the vowel shift keys being locatedbe'tween the key-buttons of the consonant shift-keys.

- 7. In a'typewrlting machine a series of printing keysea'ch operating in connection tween a dull alphabet-of consonants on the one side and a partial ralphabet of consonshift-keys being located under the thumbs. 8.121 a typewriting machine a series of rinting keys each operating in connecti n 1st lur'ality of printing characters ar- 'rangedm the order-of a group-of vowels bewith a lurality of printing characters arranged 1D, the order of a group of vowels between a full alphabet of consonants on the one side and a partial alphabet of consonants, on ghe other, in combination with a series of shift-kc s for varying the characters printed by sai rint'ing keys, the key-but tons of the shift- 'ey operating in connection with the vowel group, and the shift-key operating in connection with the group of consonants composing a partialconsonant a-lthat each finger will operate one pair of keys and no more and the shift-keys being 10- rated under the thumbs.

10. In a shorthand typewriter, a series of printing-keys arranged in pairs,e'ac h;pa ir separated from the other by an intervening space and all the printingkeys located under the fingers and each adapted to print a plurality of characters, in combination with a series of shift-keys for varying'the characters printed by said printing keys, the key-buttons of the shift-keys being located under the thumbs. k a I 11. In a shorthand typewriter, a series ofprinting keys having their ends resting sideby side opposite type-frames provided with type arranged inrows corresponding in number and location to the ends of said printing-keys; said type-frames being moved by a plurality of shift-keys, and said print ing-keys and shift-keys being provided with key-buttons so arranged that all the printing-keys can be operated by the fingers and all the shift-keys by the thumbs.

' 12. In a shorthand typewriter a series of printing-keys each operating in connection I with aplurality of printing characters and a series of shift-keys operating to vary the characters printed by said printing-keys, the printing characters being arranged in the order of a group of vowels between two groups of consonants, the printing-keys being located under the fingers and the shiftkeys under the thumbs and the arrangement of the shift-keys asto vowels and. con sonants' being similar'to the order in which the printing characters arearrangd.

w 13. In a shorthand typewriter a seriesof printing-keys each operating in connection with a plurality of printing characters ar-.

ranged in the order ofa group of vowels between two groups of consonants, a ,seriesof" Shift-keys for varying the characters printed by said printing-keys, each shift-key operatvowels series of printing-keysarranged to print s1- multaneously a plurality of characters-from.

ing in connection with a specific group of printing-keys independently of any other group, the key-buttons of the printing-keys being located under the fingers and the keybuttons of the shift-keys being located under the i v I, 14.. In a shorthand typewriter, a series of printing charactersarranged in the order of a group ofavowels between two groups of.

conso1 1ants,- a series of printing-keys arranged'toprint simultaneously a plurality of characters from each of said groups and a Seriesotshift keys operating to vary the characters printed by the printing-keys in the several'groups, each shift-key operating in connection with the printing characters of its own group independently of any other group, the key-buttons of the shift-keys in adjoining groups beingnlocated close enough together .to be operated by a single finger or" thumb, and the printing-keys being located in pairs, with a space between each pair.

- 1 5. In a shorthandtypewriter a series of printingecharacters comprising a group of tween two groups of consonants, a

each of saidgroups, aseries of shift-keys 'o erati to va thecharacters printed by P, Hg '5 the printing-keys, in their various groups,

.each shift-key operating in connection with printing characters in one specific group independently of any other group and the key- 1 buttons, of the printing-keys being located locatedunder the thumbs.

16.=;In a writing machine, a series of keybars mounted sideby side in a plurality of. lines on pivot rods properly supported beneath the bars, said bars being provided with hubs of sufficient width to'permitthe key-bars on one line topass between those on an adjoining line without coming into contact with them. s

.17. In a shorthand typewriter, a plurality of type-frames, in pivotal connection with supports, a series of printing-keys and a series of shift-keys arranged beneath said printing-keys, the former being arranged in a double row and operable by the fingers and the latter being arranged in a single row and operable by the thumbs, and one of said series oi keys operating said type-frames, substantially as described. ,i

.18. Ina shorthand typewriter, a plurality ottype-frames pivotally supported and a unde the fingers and those of the shift-keys key-boardhavinga series of printingkeys and a series of shift-keys, the former. ,being arranged in-pairs in aidouble row and the latter being arranged side by side in asingle printing keys having their key-buttons arranged in pairs and operating in connection with a series of printing characters comprising both vowels and consonants arranged in a pluralityof rows, in combination with a series of shift-keys operating to vary the "characters printed by said printing keys and bring any row of consonants in line with any row of vowels, the key-buttons of the vowel shift-key and the consonant shift-keys being also arranged in pairs and located close enough together to be operated by the same finger or thumb.

20. In a shorthand typewriting machine, a series of printing keys, a feed frame operated thereby and a shift key located above the feed frame and under the printing keys. 21. In a shorthand typewriting machine, a series of printing keys, a feed frame operated thereby and a plurality of shift keys located above the feed frame and having their finger buttons arranged close enough together to be operated simultaneously by the same finger or thumb.

22. In ashorthand typewriting machine, a series of printing keys suitably mounted, in combination with a series of shift keys mounted on either side of said printing keys, the finger buttons 0t said printing keys being arranged in pairs with an open space acters comprising both vowels and come-- nants, in combination with a plurality ofshift keys adapted to vary the characters printed by said printing keys and mounted at either side of the levers of said printing keys and having their key-buttons located in the central portion of the key-board.

24. In a writing machine, a series of key bars mounted on a plurality of parallel piyot rods beneath them, a frame provided \vlth vertical ends for supporting said pivot rods and a clip for preventing their lateral movement GEORGE KER-R ANDERSON. \Vitnesses:

DAVID MAcKIE, K. M. ANDERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of rstentl. wlshinzton, D. O. 

